diff --git a/drivers/at86rf2xx/at86rf2xx.c b/drivers/at86rf2xx/at86rf2xx.c
index 919bb4fca6..85e39a2f3d 100644
--- a/drivers/at86rf2xx/at86rf2xx.c
+++ b/drivers/at86rf2xx/at86rf2xx.c
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ void at86rf2xx_setup(at86rf2xx_t *dev, const at86rf2xx_params_t *params, uint8_t
     dev->state = AT86RF2XX_STATE_P_ON;
     dev->pending_tx = 0;
 
-#if defined(MODULE_AT86RFA1) || defined(MODULE_AT86RFR2)
+#if AT86RF2XX_IS_PERIPH
     (void) params;
     /* set all interrupts off */
     at86rf2xx_reg_write(dev, AT86RF2XX_REG__IRQ_MASK, 0x00);
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ void at86rf2xx_setup(at86rf2xx_t *dev, const at86rf2xx_params_t *params, uint8_t
 
 static void at86rf2xx_disable_clock_output(at86rf2xx_t *dev)
 {
-#if defined(MODULE_AT86RFA1) || defined(MODULE_AT86RFR2)
+#if AT86RF2XX_IS_PERIPH
     (void) dev;
 #else
     uint8_t tmp = at86rf2xx_reg_read(dev, AT86RF2XX_REG__TRX_CTRL_0);
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ void at86rf2xx_reset(at86rf2xx_t *dev)
     at86rf2xx_set_page(dev, AT86RF2XX_DEFAULT_PAGE);
 #endif
 
-#if !defined(MODULE_AT86RFA1) && !defined(MODULE_AT86RFR2)
+#if !AT86RF2XX_IS_PERIPH
     /* don't populate masked interrupt flags to IRQ_STATUS register */
     tmp = at86rf2xx_reg_read(dev, AT86RF2XX_REG__TRX_CTRL_1);
     tmp &= ~(AT86RF2XX_TRX_CTRL_1_MASK__IRQ_MASK_MODE);
diff --git a/drivers/at86rf2xx/at86rf2xx_getset.c b/drivers/at86rf2xx/at86rf2xx_getset.c
index 126e1619e4..69abd89cbe 100644
--- a/drivers/at86rf2xx/at86rf2xx_getset.c
+++ b/drivers/at86rf2xx/at86rf2xx_getset.c
@@ -524,7 +524,7 @@ uint8_t at86rf2xx_set_state(at86rf2xx_t *dev, uint8_t state)
             /* Discard all IRQ flags, framebuffer is lost anyway */
             at86rf2xx_reg_read(dev, AT86RF2XX_REG__IRQ_STATUS);
             /* Go to SLEEP mode from TRX_OFF */
-#if defined(MODULE_AT86RFA1) || defined(MODULE_AT86RFR2)
+#if AT86RF2XX_IS_PERIPH
             /* reset interrupts states in device */
             dev->irq_status = 0;
             /* Setting SLPTR bit brings radio transceiver to sleep in in TRX_OFF*/
diff --git a/drivers/at86rf2xx/at86rf2xx_internal.c b/drivers/at86rf2xx/at86rf2xx_internal.c
index dcb33256ab..8f2adc333e 100644
--- a/drivers/at86rf2xx/at86rf2xx_internal.c
+++ b/drivers/at86rf2xx/at86rf2xx_internal.c
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
 #include "at86rf2xx_internal.h"
 #include "at86rf2xx_registers.h"
 
-#if !defined(MODULE_AT86RFA1) && !defined(MODULE_AT86RFR2)
+#if !AT86RF2XX_IS_PERIPH
 #include "periph/spi.h"
 #include "periph/gpio.h"
 
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ void at86rf2xx_assert_awake(at86rf2xx_t *dev)
 {
     if (at86rf2xx_get_status(dev) == AT86RF2XX_STATE_SLEEP) {
         /* wake up and wait for transition to TRX_OFF */
-#if defined(MODULE_AT86RFA1) || defined(MODULE_AT86RFR2)
+#if AT86RF2XX_IS_PERIPH
         /* Setting SLPTR bit in TRXPR to 0 returns the radio transceiver
          * to the TRX_OFF state */
         *AT86RF2XX_REG__TRXPR &= ~(AT86RF2XX_TRXPR_SLPTR);
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ void at86rf2xx_assert_awake(at86rf2xx_t *dev)
 void at86rf2xx_hardware_reset(at86rf2xx_t *dev)
 {
     /* trigger hardware reset */
-#if defined(MODULE_AT86RFA1) || defined(MODULE_AT86RFR2)
+#if AT86RF2XX_IS_PERIPH
     /* set reset Bit */
     *(AT86RF2XX_REG__TRXPR) |= AT86RF2XX_TRXPR_TRXRST;
 #else
diff --git a/drivers/at86rf2xx/at86rf2xx_netdev.c b/drivers/at86rf2xx/at86rf2xx_netdev.c
index 5d387b2403..92bf601b59 100644
--- a/drivers/at86rf2xx/at86rf2xx_netdev.c
+++ b/drivers/at86rf2xx/at86rf2xx_netdev.c
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ const netdev_driver_t at86rf2xx_driver = {
     .set = _set,
 };
 
-#if defined(MODULE_AT86RFA1) || defined(MODULE_AT86RFR2)
+#if AT86RF2XX_IS_PERIPH
 /* SOC has radio interrupts, store reference to netdev */
 static netdev_t *at86rfmega_dev;
 #else
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ static int _init(netdev_t *netdev)
                           netdev_ieee802154_t, netdev);
     at86rf2xx_t *dev = container_of(netdev_ieee802154, at86rf2xx_t, netdev);
 
-#if defined(MODULE_AT86RFA1) || defined(MODULE_AT86RFR2)
+#if AT86RF2XX_IS_PERIPH
     at86rfmega_dev = netdev;
 #else
     /* initialize GPIOs */
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ static int _recv(netdev_t *netdev, void *buf, size_t len, void *info)
     at86rf2xx_fb_start(dev);
 
     /* get the size of the received packet */
-#if defined(MODULE_AT86RFA1) || defined(MODULE_AT86RFR2)
+#if AT86RF2XX_IS_PERIPH
     phr = TST_RX_LENGTH;
 #else
     at86rf2xx_fb_read(dev, &phr, 1);
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ static int _recv(netdev_t *netdev, void *buf, size_t len, void *info)
         netdev_ieee802154_rx_info_t *radio_info = info;
         at86rf2xx_fb_read(dev, &(radio_info->lqi), 1);
 
-#if defined(MODULE_AT86RF231) || defined(MODULE_AT86RFA1) || defined(MODULE_AT86RFR2)
+#if defined(MODULE_AT86RF231) || IS_ACTIVE(AT86RF2XX_PERIPH)
         /* AT86RF231 does not provide ED at the end of the frame buffer, read
          * from separate register instead */
         at86rf2xx_fb_stop(dev);
@@ -752,7 +752,7 @@ static void _isr(netdev_t *netdev)
     }
 
     /* read (consume) device status */
-#if defined(MODULE_AT86RFA1) || defined(MODULE_AT86RFR2)
+#if AT86RF2XX_IS_PERIPH
     irq_mask = dev->irq_status;
     dev->irq_status = 0;
 #else
@@ -802,7 +802,7 @@ static void _isr(netdev_t *netdev)
     }
 }
 
-#if defined(MODULE_AT86RFA1) || defined(MODULE_AT86RFR2)
+#if AT86RF2XX_IS_PERIPH
 
 /**
  * @brief ISR for transceiver's TX_START interrupt
@@ -1010,4 +1010,4 @@ ISR(TRX24_AWAKE_vect, ISR_BLOCK)
     avr8_exit_isr();
 }
 
-#endif /* MODULE_AT86RFA1 || MODULE_AT86RFR2 */
+#endif /* AT86RF2XX_IS_PERIPH */
diff --git a/drivers/at86rf2xx/include/at86rf2xx_internal.h b/drivers/at86rf2xx/include/at86rf2xx_internal.h
index 44f846a871..3dabdba27c 100644
--- a/drivers/at86rf2xx/include/at86rf2xx_internal.h
+++ b/drivers/at86rf2xx/include/at86rf2xx_internal.h
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 
 #include "at86rf2xx.h"
 
-#if defined(MODULE_AT86RFA1) || defined(MODULE_AT86RFR2)
+#if AT86RF2XX_IS_PERIPH
 #include <string.h>
 #include "at86rf2xx_registers.h"
 #endif
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ extern "C" {
  *
  * @return              the value of the specified register
  */
-#if defined(MODULE_AT86RFA1) || defined(MODULE_AT86RFR2)
+#if AT86RF2XX_IS_PERIPH
 static inline uint8_t at86rf2xx_reg_read(const at86rf2xx_t *dev, volatile uint8_t *addr) {
     (void) dev;
     return *addr;
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ uint8_t at86rf2xx_reg_read(const at86rf2xx_t *dev, uint8_t addr);
  * @param[in] addr      address of the register to write
  * @param[in] value     value to write to the given register
  */
-#if defined(MODULE_AT86RFA1) || defined(MODULE_AT86RFR2)
+#if AT86RF2XX_IS_PERIPH
 static inline void at86rf2xx_reg_write(const at86rf2xx_t *dev, volatile uint8_t *addr,
                                        const uint8_t value) {
     (void) dev;
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ void at86rf2xx_reg_write(const at86rf2xx_t *dev, uint8_t addr, uint8_t value);
  * @param[out] data     buffer to read data into
  * @param[in]  len      number of bytes to read from SRAM
  */
-#if defined(MODULE_AT86RFA1) || defined(MODULE_AT86RFR2)
+#if AT86RF2XX_IS_PERIPH
 static inline void at86rf2xx_sram_read(const at86rf2xx_t *dev, uint8_t offset,
                                        uint8_t *data, size_t len) {
     (void)dev;
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ void at86rf2xx_sram_read(const at86rf2xx_t *dev, uint8_t offset,
  * @param[in] data      data to copy into SRAM
  * @param[in] len       number of bytes to write to SRAM
  */
-#if defined(MODULE_AT86RFA1) || defined(MODULE_AT86RFR2)
+#if AT86RF2XX_IS_PERIPH
 static inline void at86rf2xx_sram_write(const at86rf2xx_t *dev, uint8_t offset,
                                         const uint8_t *data, size_t len) {
     (void)dev;
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ void at86rf2xx_sram_write(const at86rf2xx_t *dev, uint8_t offset,
  *
  * @param[in]  dev      device to start read
  */
-#if defined(MODULE_AT86RFA1) || defined(MODULE_AT86RFR2)
+#if AT86RF2XX_IS_PERIPH
 static inline void at86rf2xx_fb_start(const at86rf2xx_t *dev) {
     (void) dev;
 }
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ void at86rf2xx_fb_start(const at86rf2xx_t *dev);
  * @param[out] data     buffer to copy the data to
  * @param[in]  len      number of bytes to read from the frame buffer
  */
-#if defined(MODULE_AT86RFA1) || defined(MODULE_AT86RFR2)
+#if AT86RF2XX_IS_PERIPH
 static inline void at86rf2xx_fb_read(const at86rf2xx_t *dev, uint8_t *data, size_t len) {
     (void)dev;
     memcpy(data, (void*)AT86RF2XX_REG__TRXFBST, len);
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ void at86rf2xx_fb_read(const at86rf2xx_t *dev, uint8_t *data, size_t len);
  *
  * @param[in]  dev      device to stop read
  */
-#if defined(MODULE_AT86RFA1) || defined(MODULE_AT86RFR2)
+#if AT86RF2XX_IS_PERIPH
 static inline void at86rf2xx_fb_stop(const at86rf2xx_t *dev) {
     (void) dev;
 }
diff --git a/drivers/at86rf2xx/include/at86rf2xx_params.h b/drivers/at86rf2xx/include/at86rf2xx_params.h
index 01184d32f1..3497a078af 100644
--- a/drivers/at86rf2xx/include/at86rf2xx_params.h
+++ b/drivers/at86rf2xx/include/at86rf2xx_params.h
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ extern "C" {
 /**
  * @brief   AT86RF231 configuration
  */
-#if defined(MODULE_AT86RFA1) || defined(MODULE_AT86RFR2)
+#if AT86RF2XX_IS_PERIPH
 static const uint8_t at86rf2xx_params[] =
 {
     0 /* dummy value */
diff --git a/drivers/include/at86rf2xx.h b/drivers/include/at86rf2xx.h
index afc5a911a3..31e65f17bf 100644
--- a/drivers/include/at86rf2xx.h
+++ b/drivers/include/at86rf2xx.h
@@ -107,6 +107,15 @@ extern "C" {
 #   define MIN_RX_SENSITIVITY              (-101)
 #endif
 
+/**
+ * @brief   Whether there is a periph version of the radio
+ */
+#if IS_USED(MODULE_AT86RFA1) || IS_USED(MODULE_AT86RFR2)
+#define AT86RF2XX_IS_PERIPH (1)
+#else
+#define AT86RF2XX_IS_PERIPH (0)
+#endif
+
 #if defined(DOXYGEN) || defined(MODULE_AT86RF232) || defined(MODULE_AT86RF233) || defined(MODULE_AT86RFR2)
 /**
  * @brief   Frame retry counter reporting
@@ -209,7 +218,7 @@ extern "C" {
 #define AT86RF2XX_PHY_STATE_TX_BUSY  AT86RF2XX_STATE_BUSY_TX_ARET
 #endif /* IS_ACTIVE(AT86RF2XX_BASIC_MODE) */
 
-#if defined(MODULE_AT86RFA1) || defined(MODULE_AT86RFR2)
+#if AT86RF2XX_IS_PERIPH
 /**
  * @brief   memory mapped radio needs no parameters
  */
@@ -235,7 +244,7 @@ typedef struct at86rf2xx_params {
  */
 typedef struct {
     netdev_ieee802154_t netdev;             /**< netdev parent struct */
-#if defined(MODULE_AT86RFA1) || defined(MODULE_AT86RFR2)
+#if AT86RF2XX_IS_PERIPH
     /* ATmega256rfr2 signals transceiver events with different interrupts
      * they have to be stored to mimic the same flow as external transceiver
      * Use irq_status to map saved interrupts of SOC transceiver,